by R N Skye
The old man frowned and looked carefully at Ari, “You’re either crazy as a drunk seagull or there’s a lot more to ya than just you and that old cuss you have watching you back,” He indicated Shew who was busy scanning the wharf. “If I was to believe you, and I’m not saying I do. Where would we go? Fish’n a ’been a part of this family for over a hundred years. What would we do? Everything we know is here.”
“What if I could find you a new location for you and your boats, with access to a great fishery,” countered Ari, “and if you pack up everything you can in your boats I have an artifact that can sneak you out of the harbor unnoticed?”
The patriarch of the fishing clan looked up and down the pier as if in thought, his eyes lingering on the largest boat that was being unloaded by several crew. “I’m listening, but the king may have a couple of his men planted in one of my crews. Ren isn’t the only one that has been threatened. We are one of the few family businesses left that haven’t been required to provide conscripts to fight his war against Luion; we have been warned that if we don’t keep providing fish for his soldiers, we will be, or worse.” The old man sighed. If I wasn’t worried for them he gestured around the docks, I’d have just tied his messenger to an anchor and checked the depth of the harbor with him. As you can see I’m a bit held hostage myself.” The old fisherman paused for a moment as if deciding. “I’ll make you a deal; show me where we would go and how this artifact works. If I’m sold on what I see, I’ll cast in my lot with you, provided that this takes the kings leverage off of my son Ren.”
A few minutes later the old fisherman was standing on the docs with Ari and Shew in the sea side town of Coh Y Nord. The old fisherman looked at the sky and noted the late afternoon sun. “Where are we? Why is the sun so low?”
“We are in an old Elios city called Coh Y Nord,” answered Ari. “It’s quite a bit East of Jehhet. One of our mages discovered it and is currently making it fully functioning and restoring the infrastructure set up by the Elios before they left.”
The old fisherman stood looking north into the ocean. “It’s really real,” he barely whispered. “By all the stars above it’s really real.”
“Of course it’s real, “Chimed in Shew. “Magic has been rediscovered and the idiot king is trying to destroy it. That’s one of the reasons that the mages of Coholo and Luion are rising up against him,” he explained further. “That’s why we are fighting for Infin, as well as Luion. That’s why we need the help of your son Ren.”
“You don’t understand,” responded the old man more forcefully. “Coenor or Coh Y Nord as you called it has been a legend in my family for five hundred years. This is where my ancestors are from. We all tell the stories to our children but none of ever believed the tales.” Turning he looked from Ari to Shew. “Let’s get my family.”
The large warehouse was full of the nearly one hundred members of the D’roe family. The large doors closed with a clunk as two tall men along with Shew and Ari stood in front of them. “Oscaar addressed the family gathered about. “Something amazing has occurred today. I have found out that the land of our forefathers isn’t a myth. “The crowd all began talking at once but a loud bellow of silence quickly quieted them up. “As many of you know we have been held somewhat hostage by the crown, and Ren, your older brother and cousin, has been forced to serve the mad king. Today I was approached by two men sent by Ren to help us with this problem. I won’t go into the details but one of these men is a mage who is fluent in the art of the lost magic of the Elios and has shown me an artifact that will allow us to escape from Jehhet as well as the king’s control over us.”
Suddenly there was flurry of movement near the door as two of the fishing crew had grabbed hold to the two large men watching the doors. The large men held them at bay for a few moments but soon the larger men were falling to their knees and the smaller crewmen were overpowering them. A brilliant flash of blue lit the dim warehouse and the two aggressive crewmen were lying headless and still on the floor. Everyone watched mesmerized as Ari extinguished his blue sword and clipped the hilt back to his belt. The sons of Oscaar who had been at the door when the crewmen had tried to escape stood up shaken but soon regained their strength as Ari used his glyph mastery to give them back their energy.
Oscaar called for the attention of the room once more. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Ari and Shew. These are the men I told you about.”
Ari stepped forward and nodded to the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the disruption but it appears that two of your crewmen were under the influence of the king and had to be dispatched. What Oscaar has said is correct. Ren has been forced to work as an officer leading a company of the king’s army against Infin’s own citizens. We are attempting to help him be released from that. What has to occur is we need to get your whole family out of Jehhet before nightfall. That doesn’t give us much time. But first I need to make sure that the king’s magical influence is gone from this part of the docks and your ships. Ari reach down and placed a deactivation dot on each of the fallen crewmen’s wristbands; then removed them. First do any of you have one of these on your arm or were told to keep one.” No one stepped forward. “Ok. Before you all get worried, I’m a mage of the lost magic of the Elios. In addition I have an additional role as a Sicam mage. That’s a protector. I need everyone to hold still while I make sure that none of you have been infected by the king’s magic. If I find any do not be afraid. Unless it is a really bad case I can remove it.”
Ari carefully used his mastery to inscribe a complex set of glyphs in his mind like his instructor and Shane had shown him. As he imbued the glyphs a large circle encompassed all of the docks; including everything from the boats, nets, homes, and the warehouse, that they occupied. Gradually he closed the circle bringing it closer and closer until it had passed through the crowd and all of the buildings and boats to form a golden sphere at his feet. Inside he found four red pulsing spheres. Sealing the spheres off from their outside influence he soon starved the lumen from them and they faded away. The crowd of on looking fishermen all watched with curiosity at the display of magic when a shriek was heard from among the crowd.
Chapter X
Ahhan stepped from the Arc followed by Ava, Shane, and his parents. “You certainly have made a good impression,” commented Ahhan. “Kolaria was hesitant for quite a while but now she is fully confident. Well done, Ava.
“With tomorrow being Dima, should the family plan on being here for the wedding a week from tomorrow?”
“There will be a lot to prepare for but I think we will manage,” answered Laura with confidence. “Don’t you worry dear,” she said to Ava. “Your mother, you aunt, and I will help you out. You just tell us what you want and we will do all that we can.
“I don’t know,” Ava pondered out loud. “What do you think, Shane?
Shane shrugged and looked from his father to his uncle who offered no advice other than blank expressions of ‘don’t ask me’. “I don’t have a clue, dear. I’ve never even been to a wedding before.”
Ava shook her head, “A lot of help you are.”
“Don’t pay attention to the men,” Laura stepped in between her and Shane. “As long as you know what you want in your wedding we will be fine. You do know, don’t you?”
Ava’s face took on an expression of blissful imagining. “The best food, dancing, a large fountain, and pyro-works when it gets dark, an arbor of roses to stand under to say the vows,” Ava began to go down her list. “We can have the reception on Luion at mothers.”
“Between the four of us girls and Kolaria we can put it together. After all we all are mages and she is a Gryphon.” Laura waited for this to register as she watched Ava’s expression change. “Even so we don’t have a lot of time we need to get planning so let’s meet this afternoon and we can get to work.”
Ava was about to agree but then said, “We better make it tomorrow morning. I need to go to Coh Y Nord this afternoon and get the infr
astructure activated incase the people of Red Oak Glen decide to take the overland in and go fishing. I don’t want them wandering around with no means of water or the other necessities.”
Ahhan cleared his throat politely. “If you ladies will excuse me I have a few things to do myself. It was an honor to have been the facilitator of your introduction to the Stars of Eliom. Laura please let J’erine and mother know what you need if anything. I’m certain they would love to help out - Soaris do you have time to join me?” With quick good-byes Soaris and Ahhan disappeared.
“Who is J’erine,” asked Ava. “That’s the second time I’ve heard him mention the name.”
“J’erine is his wife. You really should meet her. She is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. You should have Ahhan tell you how they met. Then go hear her side.” Laura burst out laughing. “The funny part is that they are both serious and telling the story exactly how it happened. But they tell it from the most polarized points of view - it will have you grinning for hours after you hear the story.”
While Laura and Ava were talking Shane heard a familiar chime in his ear. “Who,” Shane spoke. Hearing it was Shew he immediately activated the Comm. “Shew?” he asked with concern. If Shew was calling then Ari was probably in trouble. After a pause he said, “Where?” He paused a moment more. “Absolutely, we’ll be right there.”
“Ava,” he interrupted, “Ari needs our help. We need to go to Jehhet right away.
“Give me a second to set up my portal device. What is the location?”
“Is there anything I can do,” asked Laura sensing Shane’s concern.
“Thanks mom, you come with Ava. Ava locate Jehhet harbor and look on the southern wharf were the fisherman docks are. There you will see a large warehouse with the words D’roe on the front. That’s where I’ll be. I have to go right now I think Ari has someone stricken with lumen poisoning.” Without further discussion Shane winked out of sight.
~~~~~
Ari and Shew ran to the sound of the cry that was coming from an older greying women kneeling over a younger version of her-self. On the ground was a woman of around her thirtieth year. She was shuddering and unconscious.
“Shew get Shane on the comm and have him get here as soon as he can,” Ari hollered as he knelt beside the fallen woman. Looking with his lumen sight and saw a red core of lumen spreading throughout the woman’s body as it attempted to consume the lumen of her being. Ari immediately contained the body with a shield so that the perverse red lumen could not spread. Seeing her growing weaker by the moment he had an idea. Taking one of Shane’s dots from his pouch he placed it on her wrist. Immediately the blue dot became part of the woman’s arm. As Ari watched he saw what he had hoped for. The red lumen began to flow to the blue dot where it was returned as pure lumen to the woman’s center being. The red lumen stopped growing but it didn’t subside. All the blue dot had done was return any lumen that was taken from her from the time the glyph had been placed back to where it had been taken from.
Knowing that there was nothing left he could do until Shane arrived, Ari looked around the room and asked. “Does anyone else feel abnormally tired, weak, or like someone is talking in their heads?” He asked. The room was filled with heads nodding negatively and muttered no’s. Someone get me a blanket and a pillow and let’s get her comfortable. I have a mage on the way here that can heal her. A few moments later the greying woman laid down a thick quilt on the floor next to the unconscious woman; putting a soft down filled pillow at the head. “Thank you,” said Ari as he began using levitation glyphs to move the woman onto the quilts, ignoring the gasps from the crowd at his displays of magic. “What is her name?”
“She is Chy’nette, Ren’s wife.” The older woman replied.
“And your name?” asked Ari.
“I am Suzette; her mother in law.” She returned. “Will she be alright?”
“She’s stable for now. When my friend arrives she will be a lot better.
Ari was just finishing organizing everyone into a line and had checked them one by one for any dormant lumen possession or contamination when Shane appeared at his side. “Shane, thank the heavens you’re here.” Not waiting for a reply Ari explained the situation. “Long story short: I was cleansing the area for Allyant spheres and I pulled the one that was slowly taking this woman and it triggered lumen poisoning. I’ve got her shielded and on a hunch I used one of your feedback dots and that has stabilized the consumption of her lumen and the spreading of the poison but I need you help to remove the poison.”
Shane knelt beside the woman. And looked at her lumen and saw that the glyph was indeed recycling the attempts of the lumen poison as it tried to sap her life lumen. Unfortunately while stale mated from taking her lumen, the poison was still draining her energy and it wasn’t being replaced.
“This is going to be just like we did with Leslie. Are you up to this without a substrate?” Shane asked Ari.
“I’m good- I’ve had a lot of mastery level practice since then - just tell me what to do” Ari replied.
“If you’re ready, place your hands on her head and let me know when you have her lumen shielded. As soon as you signal I’ll contain the poison,” instructed Shane calmly as he placed his hands on the woman’s head next to Ari’s.” When the gold shield is up you can pull back and release your barrier.”
Ari closed his eyes and concentrated. “I’m ready,” he said with his eye still closed.
Within moments they were done and the woman lay on the makeshift pallet breathing calmly as if asleep surrounded by a translucent golden cocoon. Shane and Ari stood Shane put his hand on Ari’s shoulder. “Nice job. That was great team work. You caught it quick and you stopped the spread with the feedback glyph; that was brilliant - by the way – it ‘s probably what saved her life.”
Shane turned to the crowd and scanned them for any additional residue of the red lumen. The room was clean. As he scanned the room he noticed a small blonde girl standing quietly staring at woman on the floor. Shane walked over to her and crouched onto his heals so that he was looking her in the eyes. “Is that you mother?” he asked.
The child nodded silently.
“She will be waking up soon. Don’t worry. We’ve taken the poison that was in her away.” Shane said, hoping that it was in a comforting manner. “Why don’t you come and sit by her.” Shane stood and took her hand and led her to the woman’s side.
“Can I touch her?” asked the girl eyeing the golden translucent cocoon.
“You need to wait for a few more minutes,” answered Shane. “When the gold light is gone your mother will wake up and you can give her a hug.”
Ari called loudly to everyone, “That was enough excitement for one day wasn’t it? The good news is she is fine and as soon as the healing is complete she will wake up - right as rain. Mean time now that we have eliminated any possibility of the king or his forces watching us we need to get ready to get you relocated.”
Ari had just finished speaking when a portal opened with a pop and Ava and Laura stepped into the room next to Shane. “Is everyone okay?” they asked anxiously as the portal popped out of existence.
As if to answer the question the golden shield surrounding the sleeping woman faded and she began to stir. Both Suzette and the child both hurriedly knelt to the woman’s side and began helping her up, smothering her with affection. The crowd all began laughing and shouting.
Oscaar came and stood near Shane and Ari. “I think you just freed Ren. That is his wife Chy’nette. She has been subdued since Ren has been involved with the war. Now I suspect I know why. Make sure you tell him that is wife is not under the king’s influence. That will give him some peace.”
Ari made introductions. “Oscaar this is Shane, he is a lumen mage of the same order as of the Elios and responsible for restoring the old magic. Next to him is his fiancée Ava, also a mage of the same order. Next to her is his mother Laura; a mage as well.”
The large fis
herman made introductions as well and for the next hour the tall sons and daughters, nieces, and nephews, as well as few dozen cousins, of Oscaar and their families, lined up to make the acquaintance of the mages. As Shane was shaking hands and greeting the family of the fisherman he looked up into the familiar face. “Top Grand!” he greeted in surprise. “It has been a long time - good to see you.”
A deep voice boomed with laughter. “Ahoy, Warball,” without warning the man bent and picked Shane up in a bear hug that threatened to crack his ribs. For a moment Shane thought that he was going to have to use magic to escape but after a moment the large man placed him back on the ground. “Everybody this is the warball player I told you about. The only man that ever went toe to toe with me in a free-for-all at the ox. That was a well-remembered scrap. We still talk about it.”
With a blush of embarrassment Shane shook his head laughing. “You went easy on me. If you would have had one drink less, I’d still be unconscious. This guy hits like wagon load of bricks. By-the-way, my name is Shane Chason.” Shane held out his hand to the large man. “I don’t think we were ever formerly introduced.
“Oscaar D’roe Junior,” the man smiled taking Shane’s hand in firm grip.
The D’roe family all gathered around Shane and began to ask questions.
Ava and Laura looked at Shane wondering what other adventures that Shane had been up to that they weren’t aware of. Finally Laura turned to Ari. “What is this about Shane being in a brawl at a tavern?” she said with a slowly brewing frown.
